Jozani Forest tour: Red Colobus Monkeys in Zanzibar

The red colobus monkeys here were nearly extinct 20 years ago: now about 6,000 live in this forest.

A guided tour of Jozani Forest in central Zanzibar where you walk through swamp forest and mangrove habitat to spot the red colobus monkeys found nowhere else on Earth, plus Sykes monkeys, bush babies, duikers and over 50 butterfly species. A live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or Russian leads the tour. Hotel pickup and air-conditioned transport are included, along with bottled water.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Jozani Forest and wildlife

• Visit Jozani Forest reserve
• Observe red colobus monkeys
• Explore swamp forest and mangroves
• Spot sykes monkeys and bush pigs
• See Ader’s duiker and suni antelopes
• Watch elephant shrews and chameleons
• Enjoy birdwatching

The experience

What makes Jozani Forest worth the trip is the red colobus monkey: a species so rare it exists only in Zanzibar, and only in this reserve. Two decades ago they were headed for extinction. A conservation project reversed that decline, and now roughly 6,000 live here. You'll walk through several distinct habitats: swamp forest where the canopy closes overhead, evergreen thickets, and mangrove swamp where the boardwalk lets you move through without sinking. The guide points out not just the monkeys but the smaller wildlife most visitors miss (bush babies, Ader's duiker, elephant shrews, chameleons), and the birds and butterflies that fill the understory.

The tour runs between two and six hours depending on the itinerary your operator arranges. A live guide in your chosen language (English, Spanish, Italian or Russian) leads throughout. Hotel pickup is included, and you travel in an air-conditioned vehicle. Bottled water comes with the tour. The forest is wheelchair accessible, and strollers work on the main paths, so families with infants and small children can join. Service animals are welcome.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport.
• hotel pickup.
• live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or Russian.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (19 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Youth (12 to 18 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, Italian and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 7 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Suncoast Zanzibar Tours

Is this one for you?The tour lasts between two and six hours, so it fits into a morning or afternoon without consuming your whole day in Zanzibar. If you have only a few hours free, confirm the shorter itinerary when you book. If you want a deeper immersion in the forest and its wildlife, the longer option gives you time to move slowly through the different habitats.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, Italian and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 18 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly are the red colobus monkeys and why are they only in Zanzibar?

Red colobus monkeys are a rainforest species adapted to dense tropical canopy, unlike their cousins the Black and White Colobus who spread across Africa. They're now confined to very small pockets of equatorial forest, and Jozani is one of the last refuges: making the roughly 6,000 that live here almost the entire surviving population.

What other animals will I see besides the monkeys?

Jozani's habitats support Sykes monkeys, bush babies, Ader's duiker and suni antelopes, elephant shrews, chameleons, over 50 species of butterfly and 40 species of birds. Your guide will help you spot the smaller creatures most visitors walk past.

How long does the tour take and what time does it start?

Tours run between two and six hours depending on the itinerary. Your operator will confirm the exact duration and start time when you book. Hotel pickup is included, so you don't arrange your own transport to the forest.

Is the forest accessible if I'm using a wheelchair or traveling with a stroller?

Yes. All areas and surfaces in Jozani are wheelchair accessible, and strollers work on the main paths, so families with infants and small children can join the tour. Service animals are allowed.